SPI signs up Telford for Stoli's distribution in China
SPI Group has signed a five-year agreement with Telford International Company for the distribution of its Stolichnaya portfolio in China.
Ballantine's whisky goes for golf
Chivas Brothers is to launch a limited edition golf pack for its Ballantine’s 17 and 21 year old blended whiskies.
Gifting still driving wine sales in China
Gifting remains the driving force behind wine sales growth in China, according to research by Wine Intelligence.
Glenfiddich 19 Year Old Madeira finish is launched
William Grant has launched its first ever Glenfiddich19 year old single malt scotch whisky, which has been matured in Madeira wine oak casks.
Glenfiddich launches first ever vatted vintage reserve
William Grant has released Glenfiddich’s first-ever vatted ‘vintage reserve’, the 1974 Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve which the company claims was selected by a global panel of 16 experts.
Chivas launches Ballantine’s Signature Distillery Editions
Chivas Brothers has launched two 17-year old Ballantine’s expressions under the new line, Signature Distillery Editions.
Angostura crowns 2012 cocktail champ
Angostura has crowned US bartender David Delaney Jr as the winner of the 2012 Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge.
Pernod CEO rues Havana Club stagnation
Pernod Ricard’s CEO Piere Pringuet has spoken out about Havana Club’s flat half-year sales growth, branding its performance “disappointing”.
Beam reports strong 2011 fourth quarter and full year results
Beam Inc, the US-based global spirits company, has reported full-year net sales increases of 8%.
Jura, The Whyte and Mackay single malt, has teamed up with its coffee industry namesake to create a range of whisky and coffee pairings.
There is unlikely to be any ice wine from Germany this year because of the mild winter north west Europe is experiencing.
Glenmorangie Artein added to Private Edition range
The Glenmorangie Company has announced the global launch of Artein, the third release of the Glenmorangie Private Edition range.
Czech Republic: Budvar toasts record exports
Budvar has reported record export results for 2011.
Fine wine prices drop 15% in 2011
Fine wine prices fell 15% in 2011, fine wine index Liv-ex has reported.
Heineken to up share in Haitian brewery
Heineken has declared an intention to increase its share in a brewery in Haiti to 95%.
Brown-Forman posts 12% half-year growth
Brown-Forman has reported double-digit half-year net sales growth after a strong performance from its Jack Daniel's brand.
Bowmore Tempest No. 3 launches
Morrison Bowmore has launched Bowmore Tempest Small Batch Release No. 3 to global markets.
Darroze releases seven armagnacs
Bas-Armagnac Francis Darroze has launched Les Grands Assemblages, a seven-strong range of armagnacs to global markets.
Rémy Cointreau cites Asia in H1 profit spike
Rémy Cointreau has attributed its positive half-year profits to “remarkable” growth in Asia and “strong” performances in the US and Europe.
Scotland: Diageo opens £10m cooperage
Diageo has opened a £10 million cooperage in Scotland.
Fuller's posts half-year growth of 6%
London Pride brewer Fuller’s has announced half-year growth of 6% after registering a turnover of £128m.
The board of Alcohol Concern, the anti-alcohol lobby group in the UK, has announced a restructuring of its senior management following the loss of core funding with the role of the CEO becoming part time for a year alongside the recruitment of a full time director of fundraising and campaigning.
Foursquare takes top gongs at Golden Rum Barrel Awards
UK Rumfest has announced the winners of the Golden Rum Barrel Awards 2011, with Foursquare Distillery of Barbados taking home two of the top prizes.
The winners of the International Spirits Challenge trophies have been announced.
Stella Artois anoints UK Draught Master
Stella Artois is gearing up for its World Draught Masters final in Buenos Aires, having anointed a champion from its UK heat.
Drambuie announces annual results
Drambuie has reported operating profits of £2.81m – up 2% on last year.
Maxxium Travel Retail outpaces market growth
Maxxium Travel Retail’s sales grew by 11% last year, outpacing European travel retail growth of 8%, according to findings by International Wine and Spirits Research (IWSR).
Champagne holds breath after “earliest harvest”
Growers, cooperatives and houses in Champagne have offered ambivalent first appraisals of the 2011 vintage, following what has been described as the appellation’s “earliest ever harvest”.
International Wine Challenge awards are announced
The International Wine Challenge announced its winners last night at the Hilton hotel in London
Follador to sponsor Drinks International’s Travel Retail Awards
Drinks International is delighted to announce that premier Italian Prosecco producer Follador is to sponsor this year's Travel Retail Awards.
Nomacorc registers double-digit growth
US-based synthetic closure brand, Nomacorc, has announced it registered 10% year-on-year growth during Q1 and Q2 of 2011.
Pernod Ricard has posted annual organic sales growth of 7% to achieve a turnover of €7.6b.
Buffalo Trace primed for Antique release
Kentucky-based bourbon company, Buffalo Trace Distillery, has announced the September release of its 2011 Antique Collection.
€5m global Vinho Verde campaign unveiled
The Vinho Verde Wine Commission (CVRVV), in Portugal, has invested €5m on a three-year global promotion.
Scotland: Diageo to invest £20m in Speyside whisky
Scotland: Diageo is to invest £20 million in its Speyside whisky facilities.
Drinks International’s Hamish Smith catches up with Vinexpo CEO Robert Beynat at 2011 show.
170-year old Veuve fetches €30K
A 170-year old bottle of champagne salvaged from a shipwreck in the Baltic Sea has fetched €30,000 at auction.
Jura invests £100,000 in visitor centre
The Isle of Jura Distillery has opened a £100,000 visitor centre.
New World leads Old in battle of the wine brands
New World brands continue to dominate the global wine sector and now constitute 13 of the top 15 wine brands, according to a recent study.
Bordeaux wine-students to train in London
The International Wine and Spirits Institute (IWSI), based in Bordeaux, is to open an eight-week spirits training programme in London next year.
28 YO Glenmorangie set for July launch
The Glenmorangie Company has announced the release of Pride 1981, a 28-year old single malt whisky that has been finished in Sauternes casks for ten years.
Master of Malt launches “world’s oldest liqueur”
Online whisky retailer Master of Malt has launched a 40-year old whisky liqueur.
Stock Spirits records double-digit growth
Stock Spirits recorded double-digit organic revenue growth and profit growth in 2010.
Gordon & MacPhail releases 70 YO The Glenlivet
Scotch company Gordon & MacPhail has launched The Glenlivet 70 Year Old, priced at £13,000 a bottle.
Amorim registers double-digit volume growth
Cork producer Amorim recorded double-digit volume growth in 2010.
Chivas receives Westwood styling
Scotch brand Chivas Regal and designer Vivienne Westwood have collaborated to launch a new limited edition whisky.
Pernod Ricard has reported a sales increase of 13% to €4.28 billion in its half year results.
100 YO Antarctic whisky undergoes tests
One hundred-year old whiskies that belonged to Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton have been sent to a Whyte & Mackay distillery for testing.
Budvar bucks Czech beer decline
Czech beer Budvar bucked a 12% decline in Czech beer exports in 2010 to record growth of 4%.
Best Bar in the World revealed
A London speakeasy has been named the best bar in the world, according to an industry poll.